Hybrid
cars and SUVs are becoming more popular with drivers in America as
people get more comfortable with hybrid technology and look to save
on fuel costs. Most of the hybrid cars are smaller vehicles like the
Prius, but there are also a selection of mid-size hybrids and even
larger hybrids for those needing more space.

One of the newest
mid-size hybrid cars is the Ford
Fusion Hybrid that is EPA rated at 41 mpg in the city and 36
mpg on the highway, though some have reported even better fuel economy for the vehicle. Toyota also has a hybrid version of its
best-selling
Camry. Another big name in the auto industry is set to enter the
hybrid mid-size market: Hyundai.

Hyundai is set to debut its
new 2011
Sonata Hybrid at the New York Auto Show. A hybrid version of
the Sonata should be very impressive considering that the standard
version of the car with the 198 hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder is rated
35 mpg on the highway, putting it very near the Fusion Hybrids mpg
rating.

The powertrain for the hybrid Sonata is said to be
much like the one used in the Nuvis concept seen at the 2009 New York
Auto Show with a 2.4-liter engine mated to a six-speed automatic
transmission coupled with a 30kW electric motor and a 1.4kWh battery
pack. The battery pack will use lithium-polymer batteries rather than
the NiMH batteries other hybrids in its class use.

Pricing and
availability for the hybrid Sonata have not been announced. The base
Sonata starts at $19,195 with a six-speed manual and the high-end
Sonata Limited goes for $25,295.